Is Strangled by Mr. Spock #61 worth grading?
Entertainment · 1976 Topps Star Trek · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Strangled by Mr. Spock #61 sells for $90.00 against $4.04 raw: a $85.96 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($82.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $4.04
- Grade 9.5
- $90.00
- PSA 9
- $82.00
- Gem premium
- 22×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $90.00 | +$60.96 | +$35.96 | −$64.04 |
| PSA 9 | $82.00 | +$52.96 | +$27.96 | −$72.04 |
Net = sale price − $4.04 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $84.00 | +$29.96 |
| 50% | $86.00 | +$31.96 |
| 75% | $88.00 | +$33.96 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $90.00 |
| 9 | $82.00 |
| 7 | $5.99 |
Run your own numbers
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Full set checklist →Grading Strangled by Mr. Spock #61 — FAQ
Is Strangled by Mr. Spock #61 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Strangled by Mr. Spock #61 sells for $90.00 against $4.04 raw: a $85.96 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($82.00) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
Is your entertainment card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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